Word game

ABSTRACT

A board game comprising a board subdivided laterally and longitudinally into squares, each square being dimensioned to accommodate one of a plurality of tiles thereon. The tiles are classified into three sets of different color, the tiles of one set each bearing a numeral designation from 0 to 9, the tiles of a second set each bearing an arithmetrical operator designator consisting of + (plus), - (minus), X (multiplication), divided by (division), . (decimal) or / (fraction), the tiles of the third set bearing the designation (equals). Each tile further bears an additional numeral designation indicating a numerical value assigned to the respective tile. The tiles are arrangable on the squares on the board to form arithmetrical equations, the game commencing from a starting position on which one of the tiles of the first equation placed on the board must be disposed. Five classes of squares are provided on the board, one class having no effect on the numerical value assigned to the tile placed thereon, a second class representing a first multiplicand of the numerical value assigned to a tile placed thereon, a third class representing a second multiplicand of the numerical value assigned to a tile placed thereon, a fourth class representing a first multiplicand of the sum of the numerical values of the tiles in an equation one tile of which is placed thereon, and a fifth class representing a second multiplicand of the sum of the numerical values of the tiles in an equation one tile of which is placed thereon.

United States Patent [191 Gold 1 1 Sept. 9, 1975 l WORD GAME Edward Maurice Gold, Regent Buildings, Cnr. Manners & Lombard Sts., Wellington, New Zealand 221 Filed: Jan. 21, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 435,316

[76] Inventor:

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 19, 1973 New Zeal-and 170488 [52] U.S. CI 273/135 R; 273/135 D; 35/31 G [51] Int. Cl. A63F 3/00 [58] Field of Search 273/103 H, 130 E, 134 E,

273/135 R, 135 AA, 135 13,135 D, 135 BC, 135 AC, 135 AB; 35/31 R, 31 C, 31 F,3| G,

OTHER PUBLICATIONS Numhle, Childcraft Education Corp. Catalog, 1971,

pg. 43. Equations, Creative Playthings Catalog, 1965, pg. 35.

Primary Exumim'rRichard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Joseph R. Taylor Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Haseltine, Lak & waters [57] ABSTRACT A board game comprising a board subdivided laterally and longitudinally into squares, each square being dimensioned to accommodate one of a plurality of tiles thereon. The tiles are classified into three sets of different color, the tiles of one set each bearing a numeral designation from O to 9, the tiles of a second set each bearing an arithmetrical operator designator consisting of (plus), (minus), X (multiplication), (division), (decimal) or (fraction), the tiles of the third set bearing the designation (equals). Each tile further bears an additional numeral designation indicating a numerical value assigned to the respective tile. The tiles are arrangable on the squares on the board to form arithmetrical equations, the game commencing from a starting position on which one of the tiles of the first equation placed on the board must be disposed. Five classes of squares are provided on the board, one class having no effect on the numerical value assigned to the tile placed thereon, a second class representing a first multiplicand of the numerical value assigned to a tile placed thereon, a third class representing a second multiplicand of the numerical value assigned to a tile placed thereon, a fourth class representing a first multiplicand of the sum of the numerical values of the tiles in an equation one tile of which is placed thereon, and a fifth class representing a second multiplicand of the sum of the numerical values of the tiles in an equation one tile of which is placed thereon.

2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures a, Sam 4 PATENTEDSEP ems FIG.|

WORD GAME This invention relates to games and more particularly to games which are played with a basic playing board and tiles to be placed upon the board whereby the skill of the players is effected in playing the tiles to make arithmetic equations.

The object of the invention is to provide a game played with tiles and to assist in an understanding and the gaining of knowledge of the players in the use of numbers and contribute towards a good understanding in the mental arithmetic of the players.

According to this invention the game consists of forming numerical equations either across or down the playing board using numbered tiles which have a score value allotted each tile.

In playing the game each player endeavors to acquire a high score with his equation in combinations and situations to secure the best score advantage available from number values and premium squares.

Each tile for playing the game has a value number printed on the tile such being the smaller number on the face of each tile. Thus it is this small number on the face of each tile which is counted when calculating the score value of an equation made by a player.

The playing board is in the form of a square having equal sides therefore, and in one form the playing board has 19 squares on each side and the squares fill in across the playing board longitudinally and laterally. Some of the squares are coloured and these may be termed premium number" squares. For instance a tile that is placed on a square which might be coloured blue doubles the value of the tile placed thereon.

A tile that is placed on say a red square triples the value of the tile so placed thereon.

A tile that is placed on a square such as a green square doubles the value of the equation so formed by a player.

A tile that is placed on a square such as a yellow square trebles the value of the equation so made by a player.

If an equation made by a player covers say, two green squares then the equation is doubled and then redoubled in value.

If an equation made by a player covers say a green square and a yellow square then the equation is doubled and then trebles in value.

The tiles are divided into two sets, the number and designations of the tiles being as follows:

The set having numbers. R of Score value I 8 ol'l Score value I X of 2 Score value 2 ll of 3 Score value 3 H of 4 Score value 3 8 of 5 Score value 4 K of 6 Score value 4 X of 7 Score value 5 X of 8 Score value 5 8 of 9 Score value 8 The set being arthmetical operators:

of {equals sign) score value I K of (plus sign) score value 2 X of X (multiplication sign) score value 4 5 of (minus sign) score value 3 5 of m (division sign) score value 5 4 (If. ldecimal point) score value Ill 1 of lfraclions sign) score value l5 In addition to the playing board there also may be provided tile racks say four in number, for four players each playing adjacent a side of the playing board.

Where the two sets of tiles are coloured white and grey respectively then in the beginning of the play, the white and grey tiles are turned face down on the playing board or table and are shuffied well. Then the players draw for first place from the white tiles and the player who draws the highest number (not value number) plays first. The tiles that are exposed are placed back with the others and all are re-shufiled.

Each player then draws out from the tiles seven white tiles and two grey tiles and these are placed on a rack in front of the player.

Note: for more advanced players playing the game then an increase in the number of say white tiles to nine and grey tiles to three, making 12 tiles to start the game which can be undertaken by the players.

Note: the fawn covered tiles (equals sign) are placed face up and are drawn upon as each player needs one such equal sign to complete an equation in playing the game which is preferably played clockwise around the board.

Rules for playing the game.

1. The first player makes an equation with his tiles but one of the tiles in the equation must be placed on the square which has the star on it, this square with the star on it, is preferably the square which is seven squares in from the top lefthand corner and four squares down of the playing board. After the first move the next player must include in his equation one number of the previously formed equation (see example 2) and succeeding players can move either across or down the playing board by so adding on to previously made equations. 2. After making an equation a player completes his turn by counting the total value of the small number on each tile in his equation including the value of the premium tiles as previously stated. His score is put on a scoring pad and the player then replaces from the pool the number of tiles used in playing in making his equation so that he still has nine tiles on his rack. The player on the left then takes his turn and the play continues in such clockwise direction.

3. Ifa player cannot make an equation then such player can either pass or replace all his tiles from the pool; but by so doing loses his turn to make an equation and therefore to score.

4. A player may remove from the playing board tiles in front of an equals sign and replace such tiles with other tiles from his rack, but the answer to the equations so altered must be the same (see example 5 all tiles so removed are returned to the pool.

5. No tile can be moved after a player has completed his equation except that as is provided by rule 4. that is no tile can be moved on the playing board after a player has completed his equation except that as is provided by rule 4.

6. A player can in his turn add to or subtract from any equation on the playing board with his tiles and scores the total value of the amended equation.

7. The game terminates or finishes when all tiles have been used from the pool and the playing racks. If no further moves can be made and there are still tiles in the pool and on the racks then the last player to have moved is the winner. The winning player calls the value of the tiles left on the other players racks but any tiles left in the pool are not counted.

8. It is necessary to keep a record of each player's score on a scoring pad entering the score after each turn has been completed.

9. If an equation is varied then the player scores the total of the amended equation plus extra points (see rule 4).

ID. if a player uses all his nine tiles in an equation then he scores an additional 50 points to the total value of his equation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Double Tile Score (Blue) Double Equation Score (Green) Triple Tile Score (Red) Triple Equation Score (Yellow) designated by Zts designated by Zesdesignated by 3ts designated by 3es Examples for playing the game are as follows:

Example I showing a score of 24 Example 2 showing a score of [9 Example 3 showing a score of 28 Example 4 showing a score of 39 Example 5 showing scores of 24 and 29 Example I EEMHIIEE This example is illustrated in FlG. 2 of the drawing.

Example 2 :.I Score 19 Example 3 Use of decimal point Score 28 Example 4 Use of fraction operator core 31;

Example 5 (These tiles moved) Score 24 Amend equation 4, 7, Score 29 Plus 20 premium points (see Rule 4) No allowance has been made in the above examples for premium squares.

I claim:

1. A board game comprising a board subdivided laterally and longitudinally into squares, and a plurality of tiles, each square being dimensioned to accommodate one tile thereon, the tiles being classified into three sets of different color, the tiles of one set each bearing a numeral designation from 0 to 9, the tiles of a second set each bearing an arithmetrical operator designator, said designators consisting of+ (plus), (minus), (multiplication), (division), (decimal) and [(fraction), the tiles of the third set bearing the designation (equals), each tile further bearing an additonal numeral designation indicating a numerical value assigned to the respective tile, said tiles being arrangable on the squares on said board to indicate an arithmetical equation, means on one of said squares for indicating a starting position on which one of the tiles of the first equation placed on the board must be disposed, and means defining five classes of squares on said board, one class having no efi'ect on the numerical value assigned to the tile placed thereon, a second class representing a first multiplicand of the numerical value assigned to a tile placed thereon, a third class representing a second multiplicand of the numerical value assigned to a tile placed thereon, a fourth class representing a first multiplicand of the sum of the numerical values of the tiles in an equation one tile of which is placed thereon, and a fifth class representing a second multiplicand of the sum of the numerical values of the tiles in an equation one tile of which is placed thereon.

2. A board game as claimed in claim I wherein said square at the starting position is disposed in the upper left quadrant of the board. 

1. A board game comprising a board subdivided laterally and longitudinally into squares, and a plurality of tiles, each square being dimensioned to accommodate one tile thereon, the tiles being classified into three sets of different color, the tiles of one set each bearing a numeral designation from 0 to 9, the tiles of a second set each bearing an arithmetrical operator designator, said designators consisting of + (plus), - (minus), X (multiplication), divided by (division), . (decimal) and /(fraction), the tiles of the third set bearing the designation (equals), each tile further bearing an additonal numeral designation indicating a numerical value assigned to the respective tile, said tiles being arRangable on the squares on said board to indicate an arithmetical equation, means on one of said squares for indicating a starting position on which one of the tiles of the first equation placed on the board must be disposed, and means defining five classes of squares on said board, one class having no effect on the numerical value assigned to the tile placed thereon, a second class representing a first multiplicand of the numerical value assigned to a tile placed thereon, a third class representing a second multiplicand of the numerical value assigned to a tile placed thereon, a fourth class representing a first multiplicand of the sum of the numerical values of the tiles in an equation one tile of which is placed thereon, and a fifth class representing a second multiplicand of the sum of the numerical values of the tiles in an equation one tile of which is placed thereon.
 2. A board game as claimed in claim 1 wherein said square at the starting position is disposed in the upper left quadrant of the board. 